ITINERARY

Day 1 : Lima

Upon your arrival in Lima, we will pick you up from the International airport of Lima and we will take you to your hotel located in Miraflores.

You will have the remainder of the day to relax or walk around.

You will spend the night at your hotel.

Day 2 : Lima – Arequipa (B)

At 9:00a.m., we will pick you up from your hotel in order to start a city tour. During this city tour, we will take you to downtown Lima where you will visit the Cathedral, the main square, the Catacombs, the San Pedro church, and the “Plaza San Martin”. This tour will include a visit to the Gold Museum. After enjoying the beautiful architecture and art of downtown Lima and the Museum, we will take you to the airport in order to take an evening flight to Arequipa. Upon your arrival to the airport of Arequipa we will pick you up and we will drive you to your hotel located in downtown Arequipa. You will spend the night at your hotel.

Day 3 : Arequipa (B)

At 9:00a.m., you will start a guided city tour. This tour will include a visit to the Cathedral, the San Ignacio Church and the Monastery of Santa Catalina. After your tour, you will have the remainder of the day to enjoy the beautiful colonial style of the city. You will spend the night at your hotel.

Day 4 : Arequipa – Colca Valley (B), (L)

At about 7:30a.m., we will pick you up from your hotel. A comfortable minibus will take you to Chivay, where the Colca Valley is located, after about a 4 hour trip. On the way, you will observe llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas in their natural habitat as well as several Andean birds. Upon arrival in Chivay, you will enjoy lunch and after that you will be accommodated at your hotel. In the afternoon you will enjoy the natural hot springs of the region. You will spend the night at your hotel.

Day 5 : Colca Valley – Arequipa (B), (L)

At about 7:00a.m., we will pick you up from your hotel in order to start a guided tour of the beautiful Colca Valley. Your first stop will be the Condor Cross where you will observe the impressive Andean condor flying in its natural habitat. After watching this spectacle, we will take you to the Andean town of Maca where you will visit the local church and rest before continuing. Upon arrival to the town of Chivay, you will enjoy lunch and immediately after we will take you to your hotel in Arequipa. You will be in Arequipa at about 5:00p.m. You will spend the night at your hotel.

Day 6 : Arequipa – Puno (B)

Early in the morning we will pick you up from your hotel and we will drive you to the airport of Arequipa where you will take a flight to Juliaca. Upon your arrival in the airport of Juliaca we will pick you up and we will drive you to your hotel located in Puno, where the Lake Titicaca is located. On the way, you will have a guided visit of the Sillustani tombs.

You will spend the night at your hotel.

Day 7 : Puno – Uros and Amantani Islands (B), (L), (D)

At 7:30a.m., we will pick you up from your hotel in order to take a motorboat through different Andean islands located in the Lake Titicaca. Your first stop will be the floating islands of Uros. These islands are made out of totora. After interacting with the locals for about an hour, your motorboat will take you to the natural island of Amantani where you will spend the night with a local family. Your host will provide you lunch and dinner.

Day 8: Amantani and Taquile Islands – Puno (B), (L)

At about 7:30a.m., you will say goodbye to your hosting family and then a motorboat will take you to the Taquile Island.

At Taquile, you will observe the local customs of the natives and you will eat lunch at a local restaurant.

You will be back in Puno at about 5:00p.m. You will spend the night at your hotel.

Day 9 : Puno – Cusco (B), (L)

At 7:00a.m., you will take a tourist bus towards Cusco. This ride will last about 8 hours. Your first stop will be the town of Pukara. At Pukara the Pre-inca culture of the same name ruled prior to when the Incas conquered the area. Your next stop will be the town of Sicuani where you will enjoy a typical buffet style lunch. After lunch, you will visit the ruins of Raqchi where the temple of the Wiracocha deity is located. Your next stop will be the town of Andahuaylillas. At Andahuaylillas, you will visit the church known as the Sistine Chapel of South America. You will arrive in Cusco at about 5:00p.m. Upon arrival, we will pick you up and we will drive you to your hotel located in downtown Cusco. You will spend the night at your hotel.

Day 10 : Cusco (B)

At 2:00p.m., you will start a guided city tour. This tour will include a visit to the Cathedral, the Temple of Qoricancha, and the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay. This tour will let you learn about the Inca culture as well as some aspects of the conquest of the Inca’s Empire and the colony. At about 6:00p.m., you will be back at your hotel. You will spend the night at your hotel.

Day 11 : Cusco – Sacred Valley of the Incas – Ollantaytambo (B)

At about 8:30a.m., we will pick you up from your hotel in order to start a guided tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This tour will let you observe an amazing view of the Urubamba River and the valley as well as a visit to the ruins of Pisac and the marketplace of the same name. After lunch, which is not included on the package, we will take you to the Andean town of Ollantaytambo where you will have a guided tour of the incredible Inca ruins of the town. You will spend the night at this enigmatic town.

Day 12 : OLLANTAYTAMBO – PISCACUCHO – HUAYLLABAMBA (About 4:30hrs. – 12 Km/7.5 ml) (B), (L), (D)

Around 8:30a.m. your guide will pick you up from your hotel. At this time you will meet your co-trekkers and will begin your journey in a bus to Piscacucho. The ride to Piscacucho will take approximately 30 minutes. This point is also called Kilometer 82. Here a snack will be provided by your tour guide and you will give your personal belongings to our porters. At 9,000 feet above sea level, you will start your trek by going up short hills and walking on flat land for about two hours. At your arrival at Meskay, you will enjoy your lunch and a short rest. After another two and a half hours of hiking, you will arrive at your first campsite, called Huayllabamba, at 9,840 feet above sea level. Here dinner will be served at about 7:00p.m.

Today you will be able to observe the ruins of Q’anabamba and Willkarakay and visit the ruins of Patallacta during your trek. Also, you will enjoy an unforgettable astronomical view at night.

Day 13 : HUAYLLABAMBA – WARMIWAÑUSKA – PACAYMAYU (About 7:00hrs. – 12 Km/7.5 ml) (B), (L), (D)

The cook’s assistant will awaken you about 6:00a.m., offering you hot tea. Breakfast will be served at about 6:30a.m. and after that you will officially meet your crew. Today will be the most difficult day of hiking with mostly uphill walking for the entire morning. Once again, you will receive an energizing snack for the day. The first hour and a half will take you to the first resting point, called Yuncachimpa – Ayabacha, at 10,820 feet above sea level. After another hour of hiking, you will arrive at the second resting point, called Lulluchapampa. Sport drinks, candies, and other groceries will be sold here.

The hardest part of the trek will take you to the “Dead Woman Pass” or “Abra Warmiwañusca” at 13,776 feet above sea level. This portion of the trek will take you about two hours. Here you will have an amazing view of both sides of the valley. A descent on native stairs will take you to the next campsite, called Pacaymayu, at about 11,800 feet above sea level. Here, lunch and dinner will be served.

Today you will enjoy different views of the trail, including a small waterfall, a view of the morning’s campsite from far above, and various vegetation. If you are lucky, you may even see a condor. At the end of the day, you will experience a feeling of great accomplishment for a hard day’s work!

Day 14 : PACAYMAYU - CHAQUIQOCHA – WIÑAYWAYNA (About 8:30hrs - 16 Km/10 ml) (B), (L), (D)

Once again your cook’s assistant will wake you up around 6:00a.m. with a cup of hot tea. After breakfast at about 6:30a.m., you will start the most beautiful day of the trek. Your hike will start with a snack and a short ascending hike until get to the ruins of Runkuraqay or “Egg Hut.” After a presentation from your guide, you will continue your hike until you reach the second pass, called “Abra Runkuraqay,” at 12,400 feet above sea level. Your next stop will be the ruins of Sayacmarca at 11,472 feet above sea level, where your guide will talk to you about the ruins. Your last lunch with your group will be served at Chaquiqocha at about 11:30a.m.

After lunch, a stony road will take you to your next campsite, called Wiñaywayna, at 8,692 feet above sea level. On the way you will enjoy the amazing views of the green mountains, rivers, and snowy peaks, as well as the ruins of the Phuyupatamarca, where again your guide will make a presentation. This portion may take you about four and a half hours. Once at the campsite, you might visit the ruins of Wiñaywayna, take a shower, or just rest. After your last dinner, there will be a small ceremony to say thanks to the hard work done by your crew. You will also have the opportunity to tip your crew at this time.

Day 15 : WIÑAYWAYNA - INTIPUNKU - MACHU PICCHU - OLLANTAYTAMBO - CUSCO ( About 2:15hrs - 6 Km/4ml) (B)

Today you will need to wake up at 4:30a.m. and eat an early breakfast because the police control office opens at 5:30a.m. A hike of an hour and a half will take you to the Gate of the Sun, also called Intipunku, at 8,920 feet above sea level. If it is not cloudy, you will be able to get an amazing view of Machu Picchu, which is located at 7,875 feet above sea level. At about 9:00a.m., your guide will start your tour of the “Lost City of the Incas.” After that you will have time to hike the Huayna Picchu Mountain or just wander around. In the afternoon, one or two hours before your train departure, you should take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, where you will take the backpacker train to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, transportation to your hotel in Cusco will be provided.

INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE